In Ghana, you must now obtain a government-issued authorization before importing an excavator. This is part of a rigorous “No Permit, No Excavator” policy implemented in June 2025. The policy is an important component of the government’s attempts to combat illegal mining (galamsey) and monitor heavy machinery.
📜 “No Permit, No Excavator” Policy.
The “No Permit, No Excavator” regulation requires that all importers obtain a permit from the Ministry of Transport before shipping an excavator to Ghana. Permits are only provided once the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the Minerals Commission confirm that the importer has a valid mining license or is working on a legitimate building or infrastructure project.
📝 A step-by-step guide to obtaining a permit.
The procedure of lawfully importing and operating an excavator in Ghana includes several important steps:
Obtain an Import Permit: Apply for an import permit from the Ministry of Transportation. The DVLA and Minerals Commission will both verify this application.
Customs Clearance: At the port, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) – Customs Division will only clear the equipment if the approved import permit is shown, which has been signed off on by both the Ministry of Transport and the GRA Commissioner-General.
Registration and Tracking: Once cleared, the DVLA will register the excavator and provide a unique identification number plate (green print on a white backdrop). The machine must also be equipped with a tamper-proof GPS tracker, which is maintained by the Minerals Commission’s centralised Equipment Monitoring and Control Room.
Mining Operating Permit: If the excavator will be used for mining, the holder of a mining lease must obtain a Mining Operating Permit from the Minerals Commission’s Inspectorate Division before operations begin.
Penalties for non-compliance.
The penalty for operating without the required authorization are high. Offenders incur the following penalties under the Minerals and Mining Act of 2016 (Act 703), as amended:
Fines and imprisonment for up to 25 years.
Upon conviction, the equipment and materials used in the criminal operation are forfeited to the state.
🏛️ Key Authority
Excavators in Ghana are regulated by several government agencies:
The Ministry of Transport issues import permits.
The Minerals Commission verifies mining licenses, registers equipment, grants Mining Operating Permits, and oversees the GPS tracking system.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) verifies importers, registers equipment, and assigns unique identifying plates.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) – Customs Division enforces compliance at ports by demanding import permits for clearance.
In short, you must obtain a permission from the Ministry of Transport to import and extra permits from the Minerals Commission to operate, particularly for mining. Given the severe consequences, it is critical to meet all legal requirements.
If you have a specific use case in mind (for example, construction versus mining), I can try to get more informati
